Pressure regulator



| CUNNINGHAM ,4 ,812

Feb. 18, 1947.

PRESSURE REGULATOR Original Filed June 12. 194,1

INVENTOR Lew/3 Lama/061mm I BY Afro/ave).

I Patented Feb, 18, 1947 um'rao STATE-S PATEN oFFlca PRESSURE REGULATOR Lewis L. Cunningham, Lutherville, Md., assignor to General Controls 00., Glendale, Calii., a corporation of California Original application June 12, 1941, Serial Nol 397,827, now Patent No. 2,353,692, dated July 18, 1944. Divided and this 1944, Serial'No. 536,282

3 Claims.

This invention relates to systems of control in which a controlling element is moved as a result of a liquid-pressure change produced by a change in condition to which the controlling element is responsive. In such systems movement of the controlling element may beused to control the operation of suitable motor means for positioning a member to be controlled, such as a damper,

with the pressure-regulating device set forth in,

the preceding object, means for relieving the liquid pressure in the system in the event that that pressure tends to exceed a predetermined safe'value.

' Other objects and advantages of the invention will be found in the description, the drawing, and the claims; and, for full understanding of the invention, reference maybe had to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is a diagrammatic view of a control system embodying my invention.

' In the drawing, condition-responsive members are indicated at I, 2, and 3 and may comprise, as one example, temperature-responsive bulbs completely filled with a suitable liquid such as ethyl ether or other suitable liquid having a high coefllcient of expansion and other desired characteristics, connected by capillaries l, 5, and 6 to a main capillary I. The bulbs I, 2, and 3 are adapted to cause the outflow or inflow of liquid through their associated capillaries upon the rise and fall respectively of their temperatures. In general, if all of the bulbs are subjected to a change in temperature at the same time, or if only one is changed in temperature and the others remain at a constant temperature, such change in temperature will cause flow of liquid in the capillary T. The bulbs I, 2, and 3 form part of a liquid-filled, liquid-confining means comprising a controlling means 8, a restoring means 9 and a regulating and relief means II, the capillary I being connected to the controlling means 8. The controlling and reapplication May 19,-

2 storing means are connected by a capillary I2, and the regulating and relief means II is connected to the restoring means 9 by a capillary I3. The controlling means 8 comprisesrelatively rigid wall means It defining a generally. cylindrical chamber I5with which the capillaries I and I2 communicate. The controlling means 8 further comprises a relatively flexible wall I3 formed for convenience as a flexible metal bellows suitably secured at its outer end to a washer II whichengages the wall means It and closes the chamber I5. The controlling means 8 further comprises a controlling element such 'as an operating or piston rod I8 which extends through the washer I1 and is provided with an enlarged end portion I9 which engages the bellows I6 and is biased toward the bellows by a compression spring 2I'which at one end engages the enlarged portion I9 of the rod I8 and at the other end engages a plate' 22 suitably secured to the wall means I4.

The restoring means 9 is constructed similarly to the controlling means 8 and comprisesrelatively rigid wall means 23 defining a chamber 24 which is closed on one-side by a flexible metal bellows 25 and is in connection with the capillaries I2 and I3. A restoring element such as an operating or piston rod 26 is mounted with one end engaging the bellows 25 and the'other I end engaging a link 21 which is pivotally mounted at one end to a suitable support 28, and is slidably and pivotally connected at its other end to a piston rod 29 which in this case is adapted for movement in a direction parallel to'the direction of movement of the rod 26 and may be connected to or may comprise the member to be controlled or positioned. Y

The regulating and relief means II may comprise relatively rigid wall means 3| defining a generally cylindrical chamber 32 which is open at its upper end. The open end of the chamber 32 is closed by a flexible metal bellows 33 which a tension member such as a bolt 31 which e xtends through the cap 35 and threadedly engages a foot member 38 having an enlarged bottom portion 39 which engages the lower end of the bellows 33. The compression spring 36 exerts its force between the inside of the cap 35 and the portion 39 of the member 38 and the force or loading on the spring is adjusted by relative position of the member; 29,

movement of the members I! and 9 4. The members 25, 24, 31, and 34 constitute preloaded sprin means. The value of this force is such that for all normal pressures obtained in the chamber a 32, there is no movement of the member 39 with respect to the cap 35. When excessive pressures are obtained in the chamber relative movement contained in the chambers I and 24 for any given temperature at the bulbs I, 2, and 3 and is adjusted by 'relaa 4 ,1, the lever toward the respective valves. Suitable restriction is placed in the line 41 so that air can enter through the valves 49 and 49 faster than it can be withdrawn from the cylinder through the line 41.

Assuming nowthat arise in temperature occurs at the bulbs I, 2, and 9, the pressure in the tive rotation of the members 31 and 99 while the cap 25 remains stationary on the wall means 3 to which it is tightly secured. This rotation varies the amount of liquid contained in the chamber 42 and with a given amount of liquid in the chamber 24 causes variation in the amount of liquid in the chamber l5. Adial cap IIa calibrated in temperature is secured to the upper end of bolt 21 by a screw IIb for rotating the bolt with respect to the stirrup 38 which remains stationary as a result of the spring friction. The lower edge of cap IIa'is provided with notches ||c engaged by a spring 1 Id secured to cap 35 by a screwl la. The free end of the spring is depressed when it is desired to turn cap Ila i with respect to cap 35.

The piston rod 29 is shown secured to a Pist n 4| which is adapted for movement in the cylinder 42 comprising a control motor means 49 according to this invention. The piston 4| is shown in the mid position of its stroke and it may be assumed for the purposes of example that the chambers l5 and 24 each contain what may be termed their normal volume of liquid, the rods I8 and 26 each being at,positions intermediate the ends of their strokes. Furthermore, it may be assumed that the'temperatures existing at the bulbs I, 2, and 9 are such that there is no flow through the capillary 1 into or out or the chamber I5. Undersuch conditions the operating rods I8, 26, and 29 remain stationary and a valve-operating lever 43, which is-constrained to move with the rod It, as by pivotal connection to one end of the rod j I8, remains stationary in the central position of the stroke. The lever 43 is pivotally secured intion 41 leading to a suitable subatmospheric pressure source, not shown. The motor means is further provided with valve means such as a pair of normally closed, inwardly opening, ball-check valves 48 and 49 closing the ends of air inlet conduits 52 and 53 communicating with the cylinder 42 on opposite sides of the piston 4|.

When both of the valves are closed and a balanced load is connected to the member 29, the pressures in the cylinder on both sides of the piston 4| are equal and the piston remains at rest, irrespective of its position. Opening of the valve 48 causes an increase in pressure on' the upper side of the piston and downward movement of thepiston. while opening of the valve 49 causes reverse movement. The valve-operating lever 43 is provided with a suitable pin 54 which is adapted liquid-conflning system rises and liquid flows through the capillary I toward the respective members 8, 9, and H. Under normal conditions the only wall in the system which canyield or move in response to this pressure change is the bellows I5 which in moving causes downward movement of the controlling element or operating rod I8 and an increase in the volume of liquid contained in the chamber I5. There can be no change in volume in the chamber 24 at this time, since the bellows 25 or second movable wall means forming part of the liquid-confining means is held by the operating rod 26 which is in turn held in position by the member 29 of the control motor. The bellows 33 is prevented from yielding by the action of the preloaded spring 36 which will not yield until abnormal pressures are ob--.

volume oi! the chamber 24 through movement of the second movable wall means or bellows 25. The biason the wall means I6 such as produced by the spring 2|, causes upward movement of the operating rod I8 and bellows It so as to decrease the liquid pressure in the chamber I5 and the volume of liquid contained in the chamber I5 as the volume in the chamber 24 increases, and returns the volume and the pressure of the liquid in the chamber I 5 to its normal value. When this condition is reached, the valve-operating lever 49 has returned to its central position'and the valve 48 is again closed, bringing the piston 4| to rest at its new position.

A decrease in temperature will cause withdrawal of liquid through the capillary I from the chamber I5 and upward motion of the controlling member or operating rod I8. The pin 54 then moves to open the valve 49 to introduce air through the tube 53 into the cylinder, causing upward movement of the member 29 and the operating rod 26. Upward movement of the rod 26 results in discharge of liquid from the chamber 24 through the capillary I2 to the chamber I5 and downward movement of the operating rod I8 to restore the valve-operating lever 43 to its neutral position in which the valves 48 and 49 are closed and the piston 4| is at rest.

It may be seen from the above description that the member 29 moves to a given position for any given temperature condition existing at the bulbs I, 2, and 3 and it reaches its central or normal position when the chambers l5 and 24 each contain their normal volumes of liquid and a normal temperature exists at the bulbs I, 2, and 3. It the same operation is desired at another normal temperature, for example at a lower temperature, liquid is expelled from the chamber 32 by depressing spring IId and turning dial cap I|a to move stirrup 39 downward sufliciently to fill the chambers I5 and 24 to their normal volumes, when the bulbs I, 2, and 3 are at the new normal temperature and the piston 4| is maintained in its normal position.

I claim as my invention:

In a regulator for a control system comprising a confined body of liquid: mean defining a chamber in communication with said liquid and comprising rigid side walls, a rigid end wall, and an extensible bellows encompassed by said side walls and joined thereto at its open end, the closed end of said bellows facing said end wall; a foot member in engagement with the inner surface of said closed end of the bellows;

an elongated tension member within said bellows and extending outwardly of said side walls, said tension member being in threaded engagement with said foot member; and means for preventing axial movement of said tension member with respect to said end wall under normal pressure of the liquid in the chamber.

2. In a regulator for a control system com prising a confined body of liquid: means defining a chamber in communication with said liquid and comprising rigid side walls, a rigid end wall, and an extensible bellows encompassed bysaid side walls and joined thereto at its open end, the closed end of said bellows facing said end wall; a foot member in engagement with the'inner surface of said closed end of the bellows; an elongated tension member within said bellows and extending outwardly of said side walls, said tension member being in threaded engagement with said. foot member; means forming a rigid and fixed opposite end wall for said side walls and having an opening through which said ten-. sion member extends; and a spring urging said tension member inwardly of said opposite end wall and thereby said closed end of the bellows toward said first-mentioned end wall, said spring being of such stiffness that it can yield only when abnormal pressure is applied to the liquid in said control system.

3. In a regulator for a control system comprising a confined body of liquid: means defining a chamber in communication with said liquid and comprising rigid side walls, a rigid end wall, and an extensible bellows encompassed by said side walls and joined thereto at its open end, the closed end of said bellows facing said end wall; a foot member in engagement with the inner. surface of said closed end of the bellows; an elongated tension member within said bellows and extending outwardly of said side walls, said tension member being in threaded engagement with said foot member; means forming a rigid and fixed opposite end wall for said side walls and having an opening through which said tension.member extends; and a spring encircling said tension member and compressed between said opposite end wall and said foot member,

- said spring being of such stillness that it can yield only when abnormal pressure is applied to the liquid in said control system.

' LEWIS L. CUNNINGHAM;

REFERENCES crrsp The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENT Number Name Date 1,971,532v McAuley "Aug. 28, 1934 2,266,202 Heinkel Dec. 16, 194 1 1,976,313 Wenzel Oct. 9, 1934 2,053,974 Smith Sept. 8, 1936 1,925,530 Gotthardt Sept. 5, 1933 2,318,706 Newton May 11, 1943 1,784,465 Pepper Dec. 9, 1930'. 

